D’Backs Notes: Kennedy, Miranda, Skaggs, Young

With the Cactus League in full swing, let's check out some news about the team that plays in Arizona year-round…

The Diamondbacks renewed the contracts of Ian Kennedy and Juan Miranda for the 2011 season, according to a team press release. This means the club couldn't agree to terms on a one-year contract with either pre-arbitration player. Madison Bumgarner, Tommy Hanson and Jason Berken are a few of the notable pre-arb players who have settled for renewals this spring.

The Snakes were pretty roundly criticized for not getting enough in return for Dan Haren last summer, but Tyler Skaggs (one of the prospects Arizona acquired in the deal with the Angels) tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he wants to "prove people wrong, to show people that I'm worth the trade." Skaggs, 19, was the 40th overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft, and he has a 3.16 ERA, a 4.26 K/BB ratio and a 9.3 K/9 rate in two minor league seasons.

Piecoro also comments on the recentMichael Young talks between the D'Backs and Rangers, saying he is "being told not to expect it to happen." Piecoro thinks even if the Rangers agree to pay most of Young's $48MM salary over the next three years, the D'Backs will still have to pay some of it, and "wouldn’t that money be better spent on the draft or on international signings?" Piecoro also doesn't think the Diamondbacks should deal away young players for Young, except for possibly Brandon Allen, "whom they don’t seem to value anyway."

I think Allen is still trying to prove something. He’ll likely be called up when Branyan gets hurt. (It definitely seems like a when these days.) He’s been having a good spring so far. He’s been making more contact. He just needs to rediscover his power.

I think Allen has proven all he can prove disappointment after disappointment. It’s time to use him as trade bait for future deals. If anyone gets a call up I’d prefer to see Paul Goldschmidt get the shot to prove himself. He has looked pretty good in his few opportunities this spring.

Normally I don’t complain about ballplayers, but one thing that really does annoy me is “renewing” of contracts. These are players that know they are under team control, and no matter who owns their rights they can pay them the exact same amount. So why the hell hold out and get “renewed” as opposed to agreeing to a contract? These young players have no bargaining rights, and although I’m ignorant to the process, I assume they aren’t doing themselves any favor with the team by refusing to sign. I’d just agree to the contract before arbitration time and then try and prove my ultimate worth during those three or four years worth of arbitration arguments (if it came to that).

Can someone try to explain the “renewing” of contracts for me please. I know that pre-arb players are going to make about 400k. So these players actually negotiate their exact salary(around 400k)? I know Heyward is making the most of any pre-arb braves player ever.

If the club refuses an increase and the player still refuses to sign the contract, the club “signs it for them” by renewing the contract since pre-arb players have no negotiating rights. The contract amount is determined by management unilaterally.

Agents may have their player refuse to sign as a negotiating tactic for future post-arb hearings. For example “The club has never paid my client a fair salary evidenced by his refusing to sign his pre-arb contract so the current post-arb offer is just as unfair.”